WHO defines wheelchair as an assistive device which enhances personal mobility and facilitates participation, for a person with walking limitation. It promotes mobility, inclusion and enhanced quality of life of the user. A wheelchair is a mobile-seat (movable seating), which is specially designed for disabled/handicapped persons and for senior citizens, who are unable to walk or move from one place to another.
Various kinds of wheelchairs have made their way into the market, catering to varied needs. Let’s learn about the wheelchair dimensions. Wheelchairs range from large, bulky, and manually driven models to electrical models that can even climb the staircases. While small wheelchairs are available for children, special wheelchairs are also available in the market, which can be hydraulic and automated for sports-related activities.
Since this is a piece of support equipment used by persons with special needs, it must be comfortable and handy. While buying a wheelchair, it is important to get the seat size right. It is one of the most important steps no matter whatever wheelchair you choose. Proper wheelchair sizing will ensure comfort, good posture and easier mobility. There are ideal dimensions that make a wheelchair comfortable for the user, and this article intends to shed light on the same.
According to Simisola Ajeyalem (published in Wheelchair Fitting), due to a lack of knowledge about the wheelchairs themselves, it is estimated that 80 to 90 percent of wheelchair users are using the wrong wheelchair, where their bodies are not fitting in properly. A person with special needs uses a wheelchair to maximize mobility, but when the user uses a wheelchair that is of incorrect dimension, and then it is certain that the user will face discomfort, pain and various other medical conditions. Hence, it is always important to discuss the physical needs of the intended user, how he or she wishes to use the wheelchair, knowledge of reasons for different wheelchair designs and dimensions with the medical professionals before buying a wheelchair.
Pay attention to minute details like the place where the wheelchair will mostly be used (surface/ terrain), duration of usage, getting the wheelchair from one place to another, mobility from the wheelchair to other chairs and vice-versa, activities that the wheelchair will support, features required for the user as well as the attendant etc. Answering these questions will solve a lot of confusion. Once these questions have been answered, research about the dimensions and fits, and here Gharpedia has thrown light into some comfortable dimensions that can make a difference.
The Ideal Fit for Wheelchair – Wheelchair Size Guide
01. According to Simisola Ajeyalem (published in Wheelchair Fitting), the ideal sitting position in a wheelchair is the ’90-90-90′ rule, i.e. :90° bend in the hips, 90° bend in the knees and another 90°bend in the ankle. The hip area of the user must touch the back of the wheelchair, their thighs should be parallel to the ground and their knees form a straight line with their hips. However, in this article, the dimensions have been detailed to give better insight.
02. The seat width must be wide to accommodate the hips, but not too much wide to that you have to extend to reach the wheels.
03. If a person has to move around using their own feet, the seat height should allow them to reach the floor with their heel. Seat height will be higher for those who use footrests.
04. The user’s needs decide the height of the armrest. You’ll need enough support to keep your arms from dropping. If necessary, positioning devices can aid with arm support.
05. The weight of the wheelchair is defined according to different weight limits. Keep this in mind while selecting your wheelchair.
The Standard Wheelchair Dimensions
If you want to know about how wide is the average wheelchair, wheelchair seat dimensions, standard wheelchair width, wheelchair seat sizes, average width of a wheelchair, here we share with you sizing wheelchair measurements chart in brief:
Length of Wheelchair – 1.10 to 1.25 meter (3’-7” to 4’-1”)
Breadth of Wheelchair – 0.60 to 0.70 meter (2’-0” to 2’-3”)
The height of the wheelchair should be such that the person pushing the chair can handle and move it comfortably, and the person who is going to be seated in it can get a comfortable backrest. Therefore its height should be:
Height of a Wheelchair- 0.90 to 1.10 meter (3’-0” to 3’-7”)
The correct seat height measurement of a wheelchair is important as this will ensure optimum driving efficiency and can give more clearance to fit underneath tables. Therefore, the height of the wheelchair seat should be such that it extends comfort to the user.
Height of Wheelchair Seat: 0.45 to 0.50 meter (1-6” to 1- 8”)
The height of the table is also as important as the size of the wheelchair. It should be such that it gives more clearance for the leg to fit underneath the table comfortably. Therefore, drawers and shutters will have to be eliminated under the table for ease of the person using the wheelchair. In such a case, pullout vertical units on one or both sides of the work centers are advisable.
Table Height for Wheelchair: 0.80 to 0.86 meter (2’-7” to 2’-10”)
The standard height of the table should be in the following given range:0.80 to 0.86 meter (2’-7” to 2’-10”).
The turning dimension is also important to use a wheelchair. The minimum turning space for a wheelchair should be 1.50 meters or 5’-0” or 60” inches. For comfortable turning, 1.80 meters diameter is preferable.
To access different levels (for wheelchairs), ramps are. Therefore, as per Neufert Standards,
there is a limit provided for the wheelchair’s length and landing dimension. The maximum length of the ramp for wheelchair access should not be longer than 6 meter (20’ feet). Therefore particular landing should be provided at every 6 meter (20’ feet) length.
Minimum dimension of landing length should be 1.50meter (5’ feet).
These dimensions and sizes are decided according to the average size of human dimensions/Anthropometrics as per Neufert Standards.
If the above-mentioned points are kept in mind while purchasing the wheelchair, the elderly or persons with special needs will find using the wheelchair extremely comfortable and hassle-free. Make your journey easier, safer, and more comfortable for wheelchair users with Southern Mobility Vehicles for pursuing exceptional mobility cars and wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
We hope you liked you loved reading our article on the dimensions of wheelchair. Likewise, if you want to know about anthropometrics while designing, we have an article to help you:
Things To Keep In Mind Regarding Anthropometrics While Designing!
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